y measuring a hundred and fifty tons she had
nearly five hundred slaves on board, stowed away as thick as they could
be packed between decks.

Having had a remarkably quick run from the coast of Africa, the captain
informed him that he had not lost more than twenty people. As he looked
down the main hatchway, the haggard countenances of the mass of human
beings packed close together--as Desmond observed, like herrings in a
cask--showed him that had the voyage continued much longer, the number
of deaths would have been greatly increased.

Although there was food enough and water for the slaves, either the crew
had hove overboard some of their own provisions, or had brought but a
small supply, so that Adair found but a scant allowance for himself and
his men; he therefore sent on board the corvette for such articles as he
thought would be required. Just as all arrangements had been completed,
and he had put the brigantine on her course, he saw the corvette haul
her wind, and stand away to the eastward. As she did so, Murray
signalised that a strange sail, which he hoped to overhaul, had hove in
sight in that direction.

A sufficient number of the slaver's crew had been kept on board to
attend to the unfortunate blacks, and carry them their provisions and
water. Adair himself went round among them, and endeavoured to make
them understand that he was their friend, and that as soon as possible
they should be sent back to Africa. At first they looked on the
Englishmen with an expression of terror in their countenances, many of
them believing that they would be taken on shore to be killed and eaten,
or to be offered up to the white man's Fetish. Fortunately one of the
seamen, who had been long on the coast, could make himself understood by
some of them; and, by his means and kind treatment, Terence succeeded at
length in banishing their fears. One of the Brazilians also spoke a
little English, and so was able to act as interpreter. Pedro was a
better-looking fellow than most of his companions, and by the kind way
he treated the blacks Terence was inclined to trust him. He declared
that poverty alone, and a wish to support his family, had induced him to
ship on board the slaver, and that it was the last voyage he would ever
make.

"These countrymen of mine are great rascals," he observed; "you take
care what they do, or they play you one great trick."

Pedro then told Adair that the brigantine was somewhat leaky,